Best Broadheads For Hunting

Bow hunting is one of the most thrilling – and challenging – sports you can participate in. While you can shoot a whitetail from 200 yards or more with the right rifle, you’ve got to get a lot closer to hit one with a bow; usually, 50 yards or less. And all of that effort can come to nothing if your broadhead fails you.

Asking what the best broadheads are is like asking what the best rifle cartridge is; ask ten hunters, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. There are many reasons for this.

To begin with, there’s the matter of what type of game you’re hunting. A large, mechanical broadhead can bring down a deer or even an elk in skilled hands, but it will make mincemeat of a rabbit, and may even go clean through your prey. Conversely, a small game broadhead will just scare a deer away and will make an elk angry.

There’s also a large element of personal preference involved. Some hunters prefer a simple, 2-blade broadhead. Their philosophy is that the fewer blades you have, and the fewer movng parts, the less likely it is to break. Other hunters prefer multi-bladed mechanical broadheads because they do more damage.

Because of the wide range of personal preferences, and the variety of game involved, we’ve chosen a broad selection of broadheads to review. We’ve also chosen products from several different brands, for much the same reason; people like what they like. That said, we believe we’ve chosen the best broadheads that money can buy.

Ready? Let’s see how they stack up!

Best Broadheads Available Online

1. Grim Reaper Hades Broadhead

The Grim Reaper Hades is a fixed, 3-blade broadhead with a spear point style chisel tip. With a powerful enough bow, this little beast will hit with the force of a dump truck. OK, maybe we’re exaggerating; but not by much. You can easily impale a large whitetail with one of these heavy, 100-grain tips. If the arrow stops partway through, they’re easy to pull out; the sharpened backsides of the blades make this possible.

The ferrule itself is made from high quality, aircraft grade aluminum, and the blades are razor sharp stainless steel. The chisel tip is corrosion resistant, so a little bit of rain isn’t going to ruin it. The 3-blade design is more stable in flight than a 2-point or 4-point design, although it does have a limited cutting surface – only 1 3/16 inches in diameter. This leaves you a relatively small blood trail compared to what you’ll get from a larger tip.

Our only serious complaint is that the blades aren’t replaceable. When they start to dull, you’ll either need to use a broadhead sharpener or replace the entire head.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Accurate, 3-blade design
• Blades are sharpened on both the front and the back edges
• Corrosion resistant tip
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Weighs 100 grains

Cons:

• Relatively small 1 3/16” diameter
• Blades aren’t replaceable

Why it’s recommended: The Grim Reaper Hades hits like a sledgehammer. It may just be the best fixed blade broadhead available.

2. Swhacker Broadheads

The Swhacker 100-Grain 2-Inch Broadhead is a mechanical broadhead with 2 blades, both of which are collapsed when you fire them. The blades actually fold forward into the ferrule, leaving two small wing blades exposed towards the back of the head. When the arrow strikes, these wing blades will cut through the hair, hide and ribs, pulling the main blades open so you have virgin blades slicing through the inside of your game.

The ferrule is engineered from aircraft grade aluminum, with a heavy, spear point style chisel tip, and the blades are stainless steel. The overall weight is 100 grains, enough to punch through even the largest game provided you get a good shot off.

That said, the wing blades are very small. If the main blades fail to open fully, you’ll get a hole that’s only slightly larger than the arrow shaft. When this happens, or if the arrow fails to go clear through your game, you’ll end up with a small blood trail that’s hard to follow. The blades themselves are also somewhat flimsy and will bend easily on the exit. Consider these broadheads to be single-use only, although that’s still not bad considering the low price.

Pros:

• Two sets of cutting edges
• Weighs 100 grains
• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• 2-inch diameter

Cons:

• Requires full pass-through to leave a good blood trail
• Blades are a little flimsy
• Blades aren’t replaceable

Why it’s recommended: The Swhacker 100-Grain is a powerful broadhead with enough punch to cut ribs, and a wide enough head to leave a big blood trail.

3. G5 Outdoors Montec Broadheads

The G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead has a simple, classic design. It has 2 fixed blades, with a 1 1/8-inch diameter. The blades and ferrule are both carbon steel and are forged as a single piece, so there are no clips or welds that can fail at the moment of truth. Because of this, the blades can’t be replaced independently, so you’ll need to replace the entire broadhead if they bend. That said, dullness isn’t an issue; carbon steel is very easy to sharpen.

At 100 grains, these broadheads are powerful enough to punch through any big game, and the blades are very sharp. If for some reason they don’t go all the way through, you can remove them easily, thanks to the fact that the back of the blades, as well as the front, are sharpened.

The only thing that makes us hesitant about these broadheads is their relatively small diameter. This means a smaller blood trail. On the other hand, it also gives you better flight characteristics. This is a common trade-off, and it’s really a matter of preference.

Pros:

• Sharp, carbon steel blades
• Blades are easy to sharpen
• Weighs 100 grains
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Blades are sharpened both front and back

Cons:

• Small, 1 1/8” diameter
• Blades are not replaceable

Why it’s recommended: With its simple design and durable, carbon steel blades, the G5 Outdoors Montec is one of the best broadheads on the market.

4. Rocket Steelhead Broadheads

The Rocket Steelhead Mechanical Broadhead is designed to punch through flesh and bone with equal ease. The mechanical blades fold forward into the ferrule and are held in place by a rubberized ring that snaps when they impact flesh or bone. The ferrule itself is solid steel, with a scalloped chisel tip that delivers plenty of force.

The blades are razor sharp and are hinged on a simple Philips screw. This makes them easy to replace, so dull or bent blades aren’t a concern. The whole head weighs in at 100 grains. That’s an ideal weight for big game. While this head is more than enough to get the job done, we’re not sure what the point is of producing a mechanical broadhead that’s only 1 1/8 inches in diameter. Fixed blades of this size don’t create any performance issues, particularly with a 3-blade design, which the Steelhead has.

Like other mechanical broadheads, your only major concern is if the blades fail to open. In this case, you’ll have a very small hole, basically the same as a field point. That should rarely happen, though, since the leading edges of the folded blades are dull, and will easily supply enough resistance to snap the rubber ring that holds them in place.

Pros:

• Scalloped chisel tip
• Solid steel ferrule
• Replaceable blades
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Weighs 100 grains

Cons:

• Only 1 1/8” in diameter

Why it’s recommended: The Rocket Steelhead is one of the best broadheads for deer hunting, and it’s easy to re-use.

5. Vision Quest Broadhead

The Vision Quest Steel Force Phat Head is a stainless steel broadhead with a 2-tiered design. The main blades are 1 inch in diameter and extend out all the way to the sharp, cut on contact point. These are followed by ¾-inch “bleeder” blades, which are perpendicular to the main blades, and meet the ferrule about ¼ inch behind the tip.

The ferrule itself is aircraft grade aluminum, which gives it enough rigidity to withstand a powerful impact. The blades aren’t replaceable, which would be disappointing at this relatively steep price, but Vision Quest offers a free sharpening service. All you have to pay is the price of shipping, and you’ll have a freshly sharpened broadhead back in about 10 days.

At 100 grains, the Steel Force Phat Head is heavy enough to bring down even the biggest game. While it’s relatively small at only 1-inch in diameter, the bleeders make it an effective, 4-blade broadhead that will leave you a nice blood trail provided you get a good shot.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Extremely sharp
• Weighs 100 grains
• Free sharpening service
• ¾” bleeders

Cons:

• Only 1” in diameter
• Blades are not replaceable
• A little pricey

Why it’s recommended: The Vision Quest Steel Force Phat Head is a barebones, fixed-blade broadhead that comes with a free sharpening service.

6. Wasp Archery Drone Broadhead

The Wasp Archery Drone Broadhead is solid steel, 3-bladed broadhead with razor-sharp blades. The chisel tip has a 3-sided design whose points line up with the edges of the blades, which gives the Drone the same aerodynamics as a field point. This is a huge advantage over most broadheads since you won’t have to re-sight your bow before taking it out in the field.

The tip is designed to punch through bone, and at 100 grains, this broadhead is more than heavy enough for any kind of game. If you want to maximize your power, you can upgrade to the 125-grain size for even more lethality. Due to the solid design, the blades aren’t replaceable, but the Drone comes in a 3-pack, and you can always sharpen the blades yourself.

At 1 1/8 inches in diameter, this broadhead won’t leave an enormous hole, but it will do plenty of damage on its way through.

Pros:

• Stable, 3-blade design
• Solid steel construction
• Chisel tip
• Available in 100 or 125-grain sizes
• Field point accuracy
• Comes in a 3-pack

Cons:

• Blades are not replaceable
• Only 1 1/8” in diameter

Why it’s recommended: The Wasp Archery Drone is a powerful broadhead that can punch through flesh and bone with field point accuracy.

7. Muzzy Trocar Broadhead

The Muzzy Trocar HB 4-Blade Broadhead is a hybrid broadhead with 1-inch fixed blades, and mechanical blades that expand to 2 5/8 inches. The blades have a 2-degree offset, which causes the arrow to spiral in flight, and gives it better flight characteristics than most larger broadheads. Muzzy makes all of their broadheads in the USA, so you can have confidence in the quality of their construction.

The expandable blades are held in place by a steel cross-bar that gets pushed back when it strikes its target, swinging the blades forward into the flesh. With its wide diameter, the Trocar HB will cause massive bleeding and a wide, easily-tracked blood trail.

Because the ferrule and fixed blades are forged as a solid piece, the fixed blades are not replaceable and will need to be sharpened when they dull. The mechanical blades are easily replaceable, though, which is nice to see since they’re the most likely blades to break.

Pros:

• 1” fixed blades
• 2 5/8” expandable blades
• Hardened steel ferrule with chisel tip
• 2-degree blade offset for better spiraling and aerodynamics.

Cons:

• Pricey
• Fixed blades are not replaceable

Why it’s recommended: The Muzzy Trocar HB is one of the most popular mechanical broadheads on the market, and it’s easy to see why; if you hit a whitetail with this, it’s going down.

8. Rage Chisel Tip SC Broadhead

The Rage Chisel Tip SC is a 2-inch, 2-blade mechanical broadhead with a steel chisel tip that powers through skin, flesh and bone with ease. The blades are held back with a cam that slips back into the ferrule when it hits resistance, forcing the blades forward and doing massive damage to your game’s internal organs. It weighs 100 grains, so you can use it for any size game.

One problem a lot of people have with 2-blade broadheads, or mechanical broadheads in general, is that they fly differently than field points, making it hard to train without the risk of damaging your expensive broadheads on a practice target. Rage includes a free practice tip with the Chisel Tip SC, which allows you to practice without risking your actual broadheads.

The blades on this broadhead are a little flimsy and can break off inside your game. Thankfully, replacement blades are readily available and can be installed with a simple Allen key.

Pros:

• Vicious steel chisel tip
• 2” cutting diameter
• Includes a free practice tip
• Replacement blades available
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Weighs 100 grains

Cons:

• Flimsy blades

Why it’s recommended: The Rage Chisel Tip SC is an affordable mechanical broadhead that will break through bone without breaking the bank.

9. Rage Mechanical Broadhead

The Rage Hypodermic Mechanical Broadhead is a 2-blade expanding broadhead that widens out to a 2-inch cutting diameter. Like the Chisel Tip SC, it ships with a free practice tip, so you can practice to your heart’s content without putting your precious broadheads in danger.

The tip is razor sharp and is made for penetrating hair and hide with maximum efficiency, and the mechanical cam opens the blades effortlessly on impact. The 100-grain weight and 2-inch cutting surface guarantee both penetration and massive blood loss. If you’re looking for more power, there’s also a 125-grain version available.

Much like the Chisel Tip SC, the Hypodermic Mechanical Broadhead’s blades are a little flimsy and are liable to break off as they pass through your game. However, they’re easy to replace, so you won’t lose the entire broadhead.

Pros:

• Stainless steel ferrule with razor sharp tip
• 2” cutting diameter
• Available in 100 and 125-grain sizes
• Includes a free practice tip
• Replacement blades available
• Comes in a 3-pack

Cons:

• Flimsy blades

Why it’s recommended: The Rage Hypodermic Mechanical Broadhead is both affordable and effective. The free practice tip is just icing on the cake.

10. Stinger Arrow Broadhead

The Stinger 2-Blade Broadhead is a fixed blade broadhead with a 1 ¼-inch cutting diameter. The aircraft grade aluminum ferrule is sturdy enough to stand up to any kind of impact, and the stainless steel blades are sharpened on both the front and back edges for easy penetration and removal.

For a cut on contact broadhead, this one has a lot of bone-crushing power. To begin with, it weighs 150 grains, which is more than enough to bring down even elk-sized game. But the tip is diamond-coated, making it resilient enough to actually stand up to bone impact without dulling quickly.

The blades on this broadhead are not replaceable, but that’s not much of a problem. Stinger offers a lifetime replacement guarantee, so in the worst case scenario, you can simply get a replacement from the manufacturer. The 1 ¼-inch cutting diameter isn’t exactly impressive, but it’s enough to get the job done without a lot of fuss.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Sharp, stainless steel blades
• Blades are sharpened on front and back edges
• 150-grain weight
• Diamond tip
• Lifetime replacement guarantee

Cons:

• Blades are not replaceable
• Only 1 ¼” cutting diameter

Why it’s recommended: The Stinger 2-Blade Broadhead is one of the most powerful cut on contact broadheads on the market.

11. Stinger Buzzcut Broadhead

The Stinger Buzzcut is a 2-blade broadhead with a 1 ¼-inch cutting diameter. It has an aircraft grade aluminum ferrule for plenty of impact resistance, and the blades are sharpened both on the front and back for easy removal if the arrow fails to pass all the way through your game.

At 125 grains, the Buzzcut weighs enough to punch through virtually any game. While we’d normally consider 1 ¼-inch blades a bit small, the Buzzcut’s blades are serrated. They’ll do a lot more damage on the way through than a standard blade. Make sure to check your state’s laws, though; serrated broadheads are illegal in several states.

While the blades are not replaceable, Stinger offers free replacement broadheads should yours fail. Given the high quality of their engineering, that’s not likely to happen unless you impact directly on a solid bone like the shoulder blade.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Serrated, stainless steel blades
• Blades are sharpened front and back
• Weighs 125 grains
• Lifetime replacement guarantee

Cons:

• Blades are not replaceable
• Serrated broadheads are illegal in many states

Why it’s recommended: If serrated broadheads are legal in your state, it’s hard to argue against the Stinger Buzzcut. The blood trail will be unparalleled.

12. Muzzy Broadhead

The Muzzy MX-4 is a 3-blade broadhead with a tough steel chisel tip. It weighs 100 grains and has an aircraft grade aluminum ferrule, which gives it both the power and durability to punch through a whitetail’s ribs without breaking a sweat.

The blades themselves are razor sharp and are extremely durable. When they finally do get dull, they’re easy to replace. Because the Muzzy MX-4 is one of the most popular broadheads on the market, you won’t have to worry about replacement blades being discontinued any time soon.

The cutting diameter is only 1 1/8 inches, but the arrow is virtually guaranteed to punch all the way through your target, leaving a nice blood trail. The more concerning issue is that these broadheads aren’t very stable in flight, and can be off by 6 inches or more if you’re shooting much further than 40 yards.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Replaceable blades
• Steel chisel tip
• Weighs 100 grains
• Comes in a 3-pack

Cons:

• Only 1 1/8” in diameter
• Unstable flight beyond about 40 yards

Why it’s recommended: The Muzzy MX-4 is one of the best broadheads money can buy, and it’s also one of the most popular.

13. Muzzy MX-3 Broadhead

The Muzzy MX-3 was the precursor to the MX-4. Honestly, we don’t understand why Muzzy ever decided to start selling an “upgrade”, because the MX-3 is actually a better broadhead. The 3-blade design is very stable in flight, and the cutting diameter is 1 ¼ inch, more than the MX-4.

Other than that, it’s more or less the same broadhead. It has the same steel chisel tip and the same aircraft grade aluminum ferrule. Like the MX-4, the blades are easily replaceable, and given this broadhead’s popularity, we don’t see them going off the market any time soon.

The MX-3 has one more advantage over the MX-4. It’s available in three sizes: 75, 100, and 125-grain.

Pros:

• Stable, 3-blade design
• Steel chisel tip
• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Available in 75, 100, or 125 grains
• Replaceable blades

Cons:

• Only 1 ¼” in diameter

Why it’s recommended: The Muzzy MX-3 may be the old version of the MX-4, but in our opinion, they’re actually a superior broadhead, with bigger diameter and better flight stability.

14. QAD Exodus Crossbow Broadhead

The QAD Exodus is marketed as a crossbow broadhead, but it can really be used on any bow. The only thing that separates a crossbow broadhead from other broadheads is its overall width, which means that pretty much any broadhead can be used on a crossbow unless it’s very wide.

The three blades are a whopping 0.4-inches in thickness, which does a lot of damage as they pass through your game, even though they’re only 1 ¼ inch in diameter. Not only are these blades razor sharp, but they’re easily replaceable if worse comes to worst.

The Exodus is available in 100-grain and 125-grain sizes and has a cut on contact tip that slices through tough hides with ease.

Pros:

• Fat, 0.4” blades
• Blades are replaceable
• Available in 100 or 125 grains
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Only 1 ¼” cutting diameter

Why it’s recommended: The QAD Exodus is an absolute beast of a broadhead that will destroy anything it hits.

15. Grim Reaper X-Bow Broadhead

The Grim Reaper Mechanical Crossbow Broadhead has a stainless steel ferrule and cut on contact tip that’s sharp enough to slice paper. The three mechanical blades have an open diameter of 1 ½ inch, and fold forward into the ferrule. When the arrow strikes its target, they swing open, cutting through flesh like butter.

Because the blades are spring-loaded, you won’t need to worry about O-rings or mechanical cams. All the moving parts are inside the grooves in the ferrule, safely protected from the bone. One thing that sets this broadhead apart from other “crossbow” broadheads is its insane stability. It’s been tested at 400 FPS and remains stable out to 100 yards, which is more than enough range for any bow hunter.

Pros:

• Spring-loaded mechanical blades
• Stable up to 100 yards at 400 FPS
• Forged stainless steel ferrule and tip
• Replaceable blades
• Weighs 100 grains

Cons:

• Pricey

Why it’s recommended: If you’re looking for a mechanical broadhead for your crossbow, the Grim Reaper is the most stable one on the market.

16. Muzzy Crossbow Broadhead

The Muzzy Trocar Crossbow Broadhead has a cold-forged steel ferrule and a solid steel chisel tip that punches through anything it hits. The three blades are slightly curved into a helix, which gives it enough spin to maintain stability well over 400 FPS. That’s enough for virtually any crossbow.

These broadheads are very inexpensive, and the razor-sharp blades can easily be changed using a small Allen key. While they only have a cutting diameter of 1 3/16 inches, the helix design ensures they’ll do a lot of damage on their way through your game.

Unfortunately, the decision to use cold-forged steel for the ferrule makes it brittle, and prone to breaking on impact with anything more solid than a rib. A shoulder-blade hit will waste your broadhead, but at this low price, we feel that that’s an acceptable risk.

Pros:

• Steel chisel tip
• Performs well over 400 FPS
• Replaceable blades
• Comes in a 3-pack
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Only 1 3/16” in diameter
• Flimsy design

Why it’s recommended: The Muzzy Trocar is a solid budget broadhead for high-FPS performance.

17. Wasp Crossbow Broadhead

The Wasp Jak X Mechanical Crossbow Broadhead has 3 razor sharp steel blades that fold forward into the aircraft grade aluminum ferrule. They’re held in place with O-rings, which break when the arrow strikes its target, and they open up to a wide 1 ¾-inch diameter that will put a big hole through your target.

The blades themselves are replaceable, and the steel chisel tip is powerful enough to punch through just about anything. At 100 grains, this broadhead has enough weight to get the job done. It’s also very stable in flight, even as far out as 100 yards when fired at 400 FPS. Be careful, though. It performs very differently from a field point, so you’ll need to sight it in at the range before you take it out in the field.

Pros:

• Aircraft grade aluminum ferrule
• Steel chisel tip
• Stable, 3-blade design
• Replaceable blades
• 1 ¾” cutting diameter
• Weighs 100 grains
• Comes in a 3-pack

Cons:

• Flies differently than a field point

Why it’s recommended: The Wasp Jak X is a vicious mechanical broadhead that will leave a significant blood trail even when fired from 100 yards.

18. Maifield Broadheads

The Maifield Judo Hammer Small Game Broadhead is engineered with a chisel point and has 5 spring-loaded, steel grabbing hooks to prevent over-penetration. This broadhead weighs 100 grains and comes in a 6-pack that costs less than most individual broadheads.

Of course, you’re liable to run into some quality issues with something this cheap. The springs on the grabbing hooks aren’t very powerful and are almost guaranteed to break on contact. Consider this a single-use broadhead, but it will get you out in the field for a very low price.

Pros:

• Durable stainless steel chisel point
• 5 grabbing hooks
• Weighs 100 grains
• Comes in a 6-pack
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Flimsy springs on grabbing hooks

Why it’s recommended: If you’re looking for an inexpensive broadhead for shooting rabbits or squirrels, the Maifield Judo will get the job done.

19. Muzzy SG-X Broadhead

The Muzzy SG-X Small Game Broadhead has the same Trocar chisel tip you’ll find on several other Muzzy broadheads. Due to the wide availability of these parts, it’s easily replaceable. The spring-loaded grabbing hooks are similarly easy to replace.

This broadhead comes in a 3-pack and is available in 100 and 125-grain sizes. We’re not really sure why anyone would bother with the 125-grain version since even a 75-grain broadhead is more than enough to kill a squirrel or rabbit. The only reason for doing this would be if you’re using arrows that are fletched and balanced for 125-grain big game broadheads and don’t want to re-fletch them.

The only downside to these broadheads is their flight performance. They can easily miss by an inch when fired from 25 yards, which isn’t a big deal when you’re shooting big game but can make a big difference when you’re shooting squirrel.

Pros:

• Stainless steel chisel point
• Replaceable Trocar tip
• 4 spring-loaded grabbing hooks
• Available in 100 or 125 grains
• Comes in a 3-pack

Cons:

• Has some accuracy issues

Why it’s recommended: The Muzzy SG-X has a high-quality tip, and all the parts are easily replaceable if something breaks.

20. G 5 Outdoors S.G.H. Broadhead

The G5 Outdoors Small Game Broadhead has a three-pronged head that’s designed to tear flesh and deliver a massive shock upon impact. The 100 grain weight of this head helps with that, as does the 1-inch cutting diameter.

Unfortunately, it does a lot more shocking than it does tearing. This design just doesn’t penetrate very well and is more likely to seriously wound a small animal than it is to actually kill it. If you’re shooting squirrels or rats, it will do the job, but it’s likely to be non-lethal even against a rabbit or a woodchuck.

That said, this is an excellent practice point, and should be good for many fun days at the range.

Pros:

• Stainless steel head is designed for shocking and tearing
• 100 grain weight
• 1” cutting diameter

Cons:

• Fairly pricey for a small game broadhead
• Limited penetration

Why it’s recommended: This is an excellent practice tip, as well as being useful for very small game like squirrels and other small varmints.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Broadhead

If you’re new to bow hunting, some of the terms we used in our reviews might have been confusing. Never fear! We’re here to clear things up. Here’s a quick explanation of some of the most common broadhead types, the biggest brands, and the laws surrounding broadhead use.

Types of Broadheads

Before we go any further, it’s important to understand the different types of broadhead. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and hunters often swear by one type or another. Which type is best for you will depend on your personal preferences and your own style of hunting.

Mechanical

Mechanical broadheads are a relatively recent invention, but they’ve quickly become popular amongst bow hunters. The reason for this is that different heads have different flight characteristics.

A slim head with a sharp point will face less air resistance, which means it will fly further and truer, and impact with more force. However, the slim head won’t do as much damage as wider blades will. Conversely, wider blades will do more damage, but they cause wind resistance and can be inaccurate when fired from a high-powered bow.

Mechanical broadheads let you have your cake and eat it too. They have a narrow profile, but they also have aide blades which fold back into the ferrule (the center part of the blade). When they impact your target, the blades swing open, tearing through your prey and maximizing the odds of a quick, clean kill.

Fixed Blade

Fixed blade broadheads are what most people picture when they think of an arrowhead. The term is pretty self-explanatory; the blades are fixed in place and don’t move at all.

That said, there are still significant differences between different types of fixed blade broadhead. Not only do they differ in width, but there are also 2, 3, and 4-blade configurations.

The most important consideration, though, is whether the blades are replaceable. Sometimes, blades break. If you have a 4-blade broadhead without replaceable blades, and one of them breaks, you’ll need to replace the entire broadhead. On the other hand, you can swap out a single replaceable blade, without the need to replace the whole broadhead.

Hybrid

Hybrid broadheads are a combination of a fixed blade broadhead and a mechanical broadhead. They have regular, fixed blades, with wider mechanical blades that expand on contact. This gives them two advantages.

First is that they have a wider cutting surface than fixed blades. For aerodynamic reasons, fixed blades generally aren’t as wide as mechanical blades. By adding the mechanical blades, they enable the arrow to cut just as well as a mechanical broadhead.

Secondly, should the mechanical blades fail to deploy, they still have the fixed blades to fall back on. This is probably an overstated advantage since mechanical blades typically fail only when they hit their target at an odd angle or very weakly, in which case you’re not likely to score a kill anyway.

Cut on Contact

Cut on contact is a bit of a misnomer. All broadheads cut through the animal’s hide. How else would they penetrate?

However, this type of broadhead is designed specifically for slicing through skin, flesh, and organs. They have razor-sharp edges for plenty of slicing power.

A lot of hunters prefer cut on contact broadheads because they ensure that the arrow will penetrate all the way through to the vitals of big game like elk. This can be a challenge with other types of broadhead, which may not have enough edge to fully penetrate.

Cut on contact broadheads can come in any type of design: mechanical, fixed blade, or hybrid.

Chisel Point

Chisel point broadheads are designed with fatter tips with a chunky, chisel-like tip. They’re designed to break bones, and in some cases can punch right through them. Cut on contact broadheads can get caught on an animal’s ribs, while a chisel point can go through them.

Similarly, a cut on contact broadhead will bounce off a shoulder blade if you’re unlucky enough to hit one when a deer is quartering to. A chisel point can break the bone, hobbling the deer enough for you to take a follow-up shot.

Much like cut on contact broadheads, chisel points come in hybrid, fixed blade, and mechanical styles.

What are the Best Expandable Broadheads?

Expandable, mechanical broadheads are primarily used to increase your cutting area, without sacrificing accuracy or creating too much drag. It stands to reason, then, that the best expandable broadheads will provide you with a longer cutting edge than you can find on a comparable fixed blade broadhead. Generally speaking, you should look for a width of at least 2 inches.

Why not use a smaller one to increase your flight speed?

To begin with, smaller mechanical broadheads are harder to find. More importantly, keep in mind that a lot of hunters worry about their mechanical broadhead failing to deploy when it strikes its target. This would be a silly risk to take when you could get the same amount of cutting power from a fixed blade broadhead.

What is the Best Muzzy Broadhead?

Muzzy is well-known in the archery community for producing some of the best broadheads that money can buy. We can confidently state that all of their broadheads are of the highest quality, and it’s hard to go wrong with any of them.

That said, we chose a few of them to review, for good reason. The MX-3 and MX-4 are very popular, so not only do you get Muzzy reliability, you get the confidence of knowing the replacement blades will be available for a long time. The Trocar HB is a solid choice, as well, with its sturdy spear tip and hybrid design.

What’s the Difference Between Crossbow and Regular Broadheads?

The short answer is that there is no difference. Any blade you can shoot with a recurve or compound bow, you can shoot from a crossbow.

The slightly longer answer is that crossbows are typically a lot more powerful than vertical bows. Combine this with the fact that crossbow bolts are shorter than standard arrows, and wider blades can cause your shot to go high or wide, depending which way the blades are facing. The wide blades can act like small airfoils, turning your straight-shooting arrow into an unguided missile.

Generally, crossbow hunters use smaller broadheads to compensate for this. This is also another excellent reason to use a mechanical broadhead.

What’s the Difference Between Big Game and Small Game Broadheads?

The biggest concern with big game bow hunting is that your arrow won’t penetrate enough for the shot to be lethal. On the other hand, the biggest concern when shooting small game is that the arrow will over-penetrate, or that a large broadhead will damage a large portion of the meat.

Small game broadheads typically have spring-loaded flanges and/or blunted tips to keep them from going clear through a small animal. Oftentimes, the force of impact alone is enough to kill a squirrel or rabbit, while doing minimal damage to the flesh.

What are the Laws and Regulations Surrounding Broadheads?

In the US, broadhead laws and regulations are set at the state level. Before you buy anything, make sure to check your local laws to make sure you’re compliant. Here are a few things to look for:

• Are mechanical blades legal? They are in most states, but a handful of states forbid them or restrict their use to certain types of game.
• How wide are the blades? Most states require at least 7/8 of an inch, but some require them to be an inch or larger.
• Are serrated blades legal? They’re banned in roughly half of the states, although a few states make exceptions for certain game animals.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many types of broadhead available. There’s as much diversity here as you’ll find between popular calibers of rifle rounds, and for good reason: every hunter has their own preferences, and their own hunting style. As we’ve discussed, you also need different types of broadhead for different types of game.

At the end of the day, there’s no single “best broadhead”. For example, a cut on contact broadhead lets you punch more easily through soft flesh, at the cost of poor bone penetration. A chisel-point broadhead, on the other hand, won’t maintain as much velocity when it penetrates tough hide, but will go through, or at least damage, bones that would stop a cut on contact broadhead.

On the same token, mechanical and fixed blades both have their own advantages. There’s one thing we haven’t mentioned, though, and that’s fletching.

Fletching is the feather-like material at the back end of your arrows. Large fletching can stabilize an arrow in flight, but will also create more drag. As a general rule, the wider your broadhead, the heavier fletching you should use to compensate. This is another reason mechanical broadheads have been gaining popularity in recent years; with their narrow profile, you can use lighter fletching, increasing velocity.

We hope our reviews helped you find a broadhead that’s right for your hunting needs. Even if you choose to go a different way with your purchase, we hope our guide helped to answer your questions and pointed you in the right direction.